**1. Introduction**

[62] Puccetti L, Sawamura T, Pasqui AL, Pastorelli M, Auteri A, & Bruni F. Atorvastatin reduces platelet-oxidized-LDL receptor expression in hypercholesterolaemic pa‐

[63] Van Himbergen T, Roest M, De Waart F, De Graaf J, Voorbij H, Van Tits L, et al. Par‐ aoxonase genotype, LDL-oxidation and carotid atherosclerosis in male life-long

[64] Tani S, Dimayuga PC, Anazawa T, Chyu KY, Li H, Shah PK, et al. Aberrant antibody responses to oxidized LDL and increased intimal thickening in apoE-/- mice exposed

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[66] van Tits LJ, Smilde TJ, van Wissen S, de Graaf J, Kastelein JJ, & Stalenhoef AF. Effects of atorvastatin and simvastatin on low-density lipoprotein subfraction profile, lowdensity lipoprotein oxidizability, and antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein in relation to carotid intima media thickness in familial hypercholesterolemia. J In‐

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148 Carotid Artery Disease - From Bench to Bedside and Beyond

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Currently, ischemic cerebral vascular accident (ICVA; stroke) is an illness with a high incidence and a high mortality rate [1,2]. In Brazil, depending on the state of the Brazilian Federation and the period analyzed, cerebrovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality [3]. More‐ over, survivors present a continuous risk of developing serious complications [4]. Carotid atherosclerotic disease is the cause of approximately 15 to 20% of cerebrovascular accidents [5].

Carotid stenosis is present in 7% of men and 5% of women aged 65 years or older [6]. In serious cases (>70% stenosis), stenosis is an important cause of ICVA and transient ischemic attack (TIA). The estimated risk of ipsilateral ICVA in 5 years is 4% in the population without carotid stenosis; the risk increases to 18% in patients with asymptomatic stenosis above 75% and reaches 27% in symptomatic patients with stenosis >75% [7]. Several authors have described risk factors associated with carotid atherosclerosis, such as age, smoking, systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), hypercholesterolemia, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and male gender [4,8,9].
